Hot Topics:

Students stressed out

The Lowell Sun

Updated:
02/12/2017 06:35:57 AM EST

By Jaafar Al Ogaili

Imagine you are a high-school student. Likely, you have many stressors in your life: seven hours of school, homework for many classes, little sleep, responsibilities at home, possibly a job that keeps you out late, and the mental stresses of being a teenager. Can we help students focus on their education by reducing or preventing the causes for stress?

Teenage stress can have large and far-reaching consequences. Roughly 20 percent of Lowell High School's 2015 class did not graduate and receive a diploma in a four-year period, according to the Department of Education. Even one student not getting a diploma is not acceptable.

I believe that two of the biggest stressors for my peers and me is the need to work after school and our lack of enough sleep. In Massachusetts, laws prohibit students under 16 from working more than 18 hours during the school week, and students under 18 working more than 30 hours. Even this is too many hours, because students' main responsibility should be pursuing their education. However, some businesses get around these laws so they can employ students for even more hours, by paying them in cash. Businesses like to hire students because they work for less, and some students need the extra money to support themselves and their family.

In addition, the high-school day starts very early -- at 7:55 a.m., and many students get up as early as 5:30. If students are working several hours after school and trying to do their homework, there is little time to rest.

Advertisement

Mentally and physically, it is harmful not to get enough sleep. Research from the National Sleep Foundation shows that teenagers go to sleep later and wake up later because their bodies are changing and growing. Lack of sleep can contribute to health problems and risky behavior.

How can we make sure students focus on schoolwork and get enough sleep?

It is time to change student labor laws. High-school students should only work 15 hours during the five school days, but could work longer during weekends and vacation. This would be fair for students and businesses. And as a result, the student will still make enough money, but have enough time to sleep and study.

The high school could start its day later. Studies show that even a start time of one hour later increases student safety, test scores and attendance. This would allow students to be less stressed, more awake and more focused during school.

We are the country's future. If we can reduce the stress we as teenagers have, we will have a better chance of graduating, going to college and finding a good job to help develop our communities and our country.

Jaafar Al Ogaili, 18, was born in Iraq. He is a senior at Lowell High School and likes to explore and read about psychology. He hopes to go to college to study psychology and become a writer.

Welcome to your discussion forum: Sign in with a Disqus account or your social networking account for your comment to be posted immediately, provided it meets the guidelines. (READ HOW.)
Comments made here are the sole responsibility of the person posting them; these comments do not reflect the opinion of The Sun. So keep it civil.